Sunderland learn key EFL dates for 2022/23 season, including fixture release, start date & cups

Sunderland will receive their fixture list for the 2022/23 campaign on 23 June after the EFL officially announced all key dates for supporters. The current season has not yet finished but plans are already in place for the next one, which has been given a start date of 7 August.

The Black Cats find themselves in the position of not being certain of which division they will be playing in when the new season arrives, therefore supporters may wish to make a note of the play-off dates for both the Championship and League One. The second tier's end-of-season showcase will commence on 29 May 2023, the day after the third tier one kicks off on 28 May.

Next season will be unique as there will be a mid-season pause for the 2022 World Cup, which is taking place in winter due to the temperatures reached in host nation Qatar. The extent to which Sunderland are affected depends which division they are in, as the league will not pause for third tier sides. However, if Alex Neil's side clinch promotion to the Championship at the end of the current campaign, there will be a pause on 12 November before a resumption on 10 December. The season will then end on 6 May 2023.

Read more: Elliot Embleton on Sunderland's win at Oxford and League One promotion run-in

Sunderland's fate this season will also dictate whether they compete in the Papa John's Trophy, which will begin on 31 August and end with the final on 19 March 2023. Regardless of which division the club are playing in, they will be in the hat for the Carabao Cup when it kicks off on 10 August, although will be fierce underdogs to reach the final on 26 February 2023.

Focus for now, however, will be on remaining in contention for promotion. Sunderland have five games remaining,